Rather than Community Service being something we are required to “do” at St. Catherine of Siena Academy, we pray that it will reflect who we are, both within and outside of the school. When considering the two individuals central to the mission of SCA, St. John Paul II and St. Catherine of Siena, we recognize that at the core of their lives and their mission from God was a spirit of self-sacrifice and self-giving. Their words and example inspire and teach us.
In his “Letter to Women “ St. John Paul II exhorts the unique heart of service in women saying, “…we can note that women are ever ready and willing to give themselves generously to others, especially in serving the weakest and most defenseless. In this work they exhibit a kind of affective, cultural and spiritual motherhood which has inestimable value for the development of individuals and the future of society.”
Likewise, St. Catherine of Siena encourages a heart of service in sharing the words given to her by Christ: “Make yourself a channel for all peoples, giving each of them what he needs, according to their disposition and what I, your Creator, give to you” (Dialogue 109).
Throughout the school year, students, staff, faculty, and parents will have opportunities to live out these exhortations, joining together on special projects designed to provide for those in need. These may take the form of clothing drives, food and personal needs drives, etc…, or they may involve hands-on initiatives such as mission trips; assistance to local communities of the elderly, disabled, or disadvantaged; or response to a unique need that exists within our own local community. Equally important, we believe, are the simple opportunities that exist daily to extend kindness, love, and forgiveness within our school community and our families.
Our hope is that as we nurture this spirit of self-giving, we will help form young women who, long after leaving SCA, are alert to, and equipped to address, the needs around them and throughout the world.
